Culture Icons... R.I.P

Sarkus said:
Ann Widdicombe - 78

Murdered, apparently. :(
www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Widdecombe was attacked 24 hours before she was found dead, police believe - live updates

Officers have been seen searching around the former MP's home in Haytor as Devon and Cornwall Police say their murder inquiry is "moving at pace".
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Sure, she was a Conservative minister, then Reform UK member, and I can't say I particularly liked her politics, but she was definitely a known personality in the UK.
Click to expand...
Yeah I was pretty shocked. I liked her, I don't think much our idealogy, religious views and politics would align but I admired her.
She debated Christopher Hitchens in the 2000s regarding the Catholic church. (She lost)
She also took part in a documentary on inner city London crime, talking to the locals in the area.

She did not deserve to be beaten to death. We will have see how the case pans out.
 
I do remember her turn as host on "Have I Got News For You" (HIGNFY) - it was rather anarchic, and widely regarded as one of the most disastrous episodes. That alone makes it great viewing, in a cringe-worthy, train-crash viewing type of way (imo). Merton, though, considered it as one of the lowest points of his career. She either didn't quite understand the nature of the show, or simply didn't care. Compare it to Brian Blessed's turn, which was equally as disastrous to film, but Blessed's episode was loved by both Hislop and Merton, simply because it was genuinely "wtf?" kind of fun, even if a nightmare to film.
 
Sarkus said:
I do remember her turn as host on "Have I Got News For You" (HIGNFY) - it was rather anarchic, and widely regarded as one of the most disastrous episodes. That alone makes it great viewing, in a cringe-worthy, train-crash viewing type of way (imo). Merton, though, considered it as one of the lowest points of his career. She either didn't quite understand the nature of the show, or simply didn't care. Compare it to Brian Blessed's turn, which was equally as disastrous to film, but Blessed's episode was loved by both Hislop and Merton, simply because it was genuinely "wtf?" kind of fun, even if a nightmare to film.
Click to expand...

From what I've repeatedly heard (maybe there's a video clip from the past revealing otherwise), she was old school in the sense of her speeches being improvised, spurning the reading of prepared ones. That might have been the general approach to things -- no safety net of scouting, planning, and rehearsing apart from any forethought taking place in her head. Libertarian Spiked! tried to exalt that characteristic recently...

RIP Ann Widdecombe: "As Rory Sutherland has noted, Widdecombe also belonged to a fast-fading line of parliamentarians – from Tony Benn to Norman Tebbit to Dennis Skinner – who were bombastic, formidable and utterly sincere; motored by duty, principle and unflappable conviction. People who would not dream of meekly reading a speech from their phone, or dispensing lines to take in the media.

When they pass on, we lose more than just another public figure, who we may have loved or hated, agreed or disagreed with – we are losing a quality of politician which today’s culture seems all but incapable of replicating. Like a Second World War regiment whose ranks grow thinner with each Remembrance Sunday."
_
 
Sarkus said:
I do remember her turn as host on "Have I Got News For You" (HIGNFY) - it was rather anarchic, and widely regarded as one of the most disastrous episodes. That alone makes it great viewing, in a cringe-worthy, train-crash viewing type of way (imo). Merton, though, considered it as one of the lowest points of his career. She either didn't quite understand the nature of the show, or simply didn't care. Compare it to Brian Blessed's turn, which was equally as disastrous to film, but Blessed's episode was loved by both Hislop and Merton, simply because it was genuinely "wtf?" kind of fun, even if a nightmare to film.
Click to expand...
Her views were pretty much all the opposite of my own reading her bio on wiki, yikes. Why did I admire her again? She was very British, brave, interesting, intelligent and a stubborn old bird. We would have had an interesting conversation I think.
 
Pinball1970 said:
Her views were pretty much all the opposite of my own reading her bio on wiki, yikes. Why did I admire her again? She was very British, brave, interesting, intelligent and a stubborn old bird. We would have had an interesting conversation I think.
Click to expand...

Controversial (and also gay) journalist Dan Wootton, who I'm having to perhaps very imprecisely construe as some kind of UK version of Dave Rubin, was apparently a close friend. He put up some grief-stricken YouTube installments in recent days, thereby emphasizing the wider theme of support that she gave to individuals during times of personal crisis, regardless of religious and political differences.
_
 
Last edited:
Sam Neil - 78
www.bbc.co.uk

Sam Neill, Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders actor, dies aged 78

The New Zealand actor, who was born in Northern Ireland, died in Sydney. He had recovered from cancer and "the loss was sudden and unexpected", his family says.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

I was always surprised he didn't get to appear in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, given where it was filmed, but seems his Jurassic Park commitments kept him out.
 
Sam Neill, Lindsey Graham, and Ann Widdicombe walk into an bar.

"Sorry," says the bartender "but our drinks will just go right through you."
 
Sarkus said:
Sam Neil - 78
www.bbc.co.uk

Sam Neill, Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders actor, dies aged 78

The New Zealand actor, who was born in Northern Ireland, died in Sydney. He had recovered from cancer and "the loss was sudden and unexpected", his family says.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

I was always surprised he didn't get to appear in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, given where it was filmed, but seems his Jurassic Park commitments kept him out.
Click to expand...
I first saw him in reilly ace of spies
great fun
 
TheVat said:
Sam Neill, Lindsey Graham, and Ann Widdicombe walk into an bar.

"Sorry," says the bartender "but our drinks will just go right through you."
Click to expand...
Barely cold in their graves! Actually probably not buried yet, untill all investigations have been completed by the ME and forensics for Miss Widdicombe.
 
sculptor said:
I first saw him in reilly ace of spies
great fun
Click to expand...

I guess that's why his death seems premature. He was already circa 35 or 36 years old when the wider global public became solidly aware of him. For some extreme laggards, that might have even been delayed until Park.
_
 
TheVat said:
Sam Neill, Lindsey Graham, and Ann Widdicombe walk into an bar.

"Sorry," says the bartender "but our drinks will just go right through you."
Click to expand...
If we are going down that road we can do Theo Burrell. 35 diagnosed with malignant glioma, surgery, RT and chemo, 4 years later dead. Antiques roadshow host, go!
 
sculptor said:
poor guy
If you want to be a working actor, you gotta take the scripts offered.
(especially in the early days)
Click to expand...
He was a solid actor. B-list for sure. Nothing particularly remarkable or box-office about him, just a decent portrayal of whatever character was required. A good range. A "safe pair of hands". Reliable, steady, and by all accounts just a really nice guy to work with.
 
Pinball1970 said:
If we are going down that road we can do Theo Burrell. 35 diagnosed with malignant glioma, surgery, RT and chemo, 4 years later dead. Antiques roadshow host, go!
Click to expand...
I've got it!

What is worse than selling some old tat at a car boot sale for 50p then finding out it's a rare Bernard Leach original via the antiques roadshow?

Cancer.
 
DaveC426913 said:
: furiously Googles "panto" :
Click to expand...
Short for Pantomime.

I cannot remember a huge amount about it which is a bad sign for me but I do remember monks on Tarzan ropes, and the fact that Damian kept referring to Jesus at the "Nazereen."

Or more ham, "NAZereeeeeeeen!"

Like that was supposed to be an insult? It's like referring to someone from Harlem as a "New Yorker," yeah take that you bloody Harlem person!

Plus was he not born in Bethlehem? According to Mathew and Luke he was, so I suppose Satan discarded the synoptic birth narrative which means he was at least in line with modern scholarship.

Anyway I digress, Sam was good in Jurassic Park and the one about boats.
 
Pinball1970 said:
Barely cold in their graves! Actually probably not buried yet, untill all investigations have been completed by the ME and forensics for Miss Widdicombe.
Click to expand...
You're as bad as he is (....and Sarkus too!)
It is Widdecombe.

It is turning intriguing now with the "Terror" investigation.Very Agatha Christie.

My first thoughts , even before this change in the investigation was that it might be Putin sticking his oar in to try and disrupt/demoralise the British Political system.

Ditto with Graham ,but for different reasons.(a favour and a message for Trump?) It is his modus operandi as we well know.

Not sure how reliable are any medical authorities are in America when it comes to these sorts of cases.

Airy speculation of course but with Putin (and indeed, Trump) no beneft of the doubt is due.
.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top